A cold breeze touches your arm as you stand leaning on the railing of the balcony of Wangshu Inn. You're admiring the moon and letting a cold breeze wash away the daily sorrows before going to bed. A quiet thump of steps is heard despite the door to your room not opening or closing, so you immediately know who it is.

You smirk and take your time to acknowledge him, waiting to see what he would do. It's quiet for a few seconds and you imagine him growing more and more confused about what to do since he's used to you noticing him and starting a conversation first. Then, a heavy step in your direction and the soft touch of a hand against your back.

The sudden physical contact makes you whirl around embarrased, but the exhausted face you meet when you lay your eyes on him make all the color fade from your burning cheeks. Without saying a word, Xiao grabs one of your shoulders, holding on for dear life as you notice his legs slowly giving in.

You quickly wrap your arms around him and catch him right before he collapses onto you. Worried, you look for wounds that put him into this weak state but no major bruises are found. His clothes look less okay than his body, the fabric torn in warious places, smeared with dirt or blood, you couldn't even tell anymore.

Xiao murmurs something that sounds like a mixture between your name, an apology and gratefulness before sinking his head on your shoulder. Verr had told you about the young mans habit to go beyond his limits when defending Liyue from various intruders, so maybe this was one of these times.

With your back against the railing and a tight grip on his exhausted body, you gently slide down to sit while making sure Xiao is comfortably laying down on his side, his head resting on your thighs. He really is exhausted, you think to yourself as you swipe his messy hair out of his face, admiring the curiously cleanliness of that part. He was probably wearing his mask for way longer than he should have.

"Xiao, are you alright?"

You ask, not expecting an answer as you're pretty sure he's already fast asleep but still hoping for reassurance. He nudges his head closer to you in response and you take that as a sign that he's at least not in lethal danger which is a good thing.

"I'm going to be stuck here all night, aren't I?"

You sigh with a smile, hands gently petting tangled twigs and leaves out of his hair.

"Rest well, Xiao."